The Creativity Cure: Treatment Returns Patients to Their Creative Roots

In past times, our daily routines required us to perform many tasks by hand, but in this highly technological age, so much now happens with the click of a button. Studies are now showing that making things by hand benefits us psychologically. The Creativity Cure documents that the simple act of knitting a sweater or even cooking a meal can bring about a wealth of positive health benefits.

In their book, the Barrons show readers how to easily implement "The Creativity Cure" into their routines. Their "Five-Part Prescription" includes:

Insight (self awareness)

Movement (any kind of movement that suits your physical situation)

Mind Rest (relaxation)

Your Own Two Hands (making things) and

Mind Shift (feeling better about your circumstances)

The authors claim that applying this prescription to a patient's life can help "to achieve greater mental health, creativity, and more happy moments."

"While we used to have to make things ourselves for practical reasons, now we need to for psychological reasons. It is not so much about a beautiful outcome as doing something engaging or even practical," Carrie Barron noted.

"In the last few years, more and more patients have spontaneously shared stories about how knitting, doing repairs, and cooking solo or with companions has provided contentment where traditional treatments fall short. While we used to have to make things ourselves for practical reasons, now we need to for psychological reasons. It is not so much about a beautiful outcome as doing something engaging or even practical," Carrie Barron continues. "Imperfections, improvisations, and flawed outcomes are the point!"

The Barrons say that The Creativity Cure dovetails perfectly with the work of PTs and OTs, especially the prescription points of Movement and Your Own Two Hands. "Occupational and physical therapists are on the front line in terms of helping patients regain and maintain their independence as well as high quality work and recreational lives." The Creativity Cure can help therapists to develop a tailor-made treatment plan using creative hand and movement-based activities to spur recovery and healing.

Says Carrie, "The Creativity Cure is all about stimulating self-reliance and optimism in clients through self-knowledge and right-track choices. Also, it will give patients incentive to do the hard work of rehab, to regain a high level of function and, therefore, well-being."